Alpha-AminoCycloLactam Ligands for G-Protein Coupled Receptors, and Methods of Using Same

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the generation of a library of compounds enriched in agonist and antagonists for members of the G-protein coupled class of receptors (GPCRs). 
     The library contains compounds of general formula (II) 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
         
         wherein: 
         y is any integer from 1 to 8; 
         X is —CO—R 1  or —SO 2 —R 1 ; 
         each R 1  is independently selected from an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylaminoalkyl, alkylaminodialkyl, or charged alkylaminotrialkyl, radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; 
         or each R 1  is independently selected from oxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, aminodialkyl, or charged aminotrialkyl radical; and 
         wherein the R 1  radical has a “key” carbon next to the carbonyl of the carbon amide or the sulfonyl group of the sulfonamide which is di-substituted with the same or different groups selected from: alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl and alkylamino radicals.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/193,274, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,389,279, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/574,656, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,008,289, which is the U.S. national stage of PCT/GB2005/003134, filed Aug. 10, 2005 and published in English as WO 2006/024815 A1 on Mar. 9, 2006, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to United Kingdom application serial no. 0419517.8, filed Sep. 2, 2004, all of which applications and publications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the generation of a library of compounds enriched in agonist and antagonists for members of the G-protein coupled class of receptors (GPCRs).

BACKGROUND

Members of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) class of membrane proteins (also known as seven-transmembrane spanning or 7TM receptors and serpentine receptors) mediate cellular signalling in response to a very wide variety of extracellular signals, including hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines and even environmental substances such as odours and tastes. In response to the ligand interacting with the extracellular portion of the receptor (most usually the N-terminal tail of the receptor protein), the receptor is converted temporarily to an activated state (this conversion is usually designated R+L→R*L where R is the inactive receptor, R* is the activated receptor and L is the ligand).

The activated (or R*) conformation of the receptor is then able to interact with a member of the G-protein family. The G-proteins are a large family of trimeric intracellular proteins which bind guanine nucleotides. On interacting with the activated receptor (probably by a mechanism called “collisional coupling”) the G-protein exchanges a bound guanosine diphosphate (GDP) for a guanosine triphosphate (GTP). In this GTP-bound form the G-protein trimer dissociates, yielding a free Gα subunit, and a βγ dimer. Both the Gα and βγ subunits can then participate in further signalling cascades. For example, the Gα subunit can activate the adenylate cyclase (AC) enzyme, which generates cyclic adenosine monophospate (cAMP) from adenosine triphosphate. The βγ subunit can activate members of the PI-3-kinase family of enzymes. Ultimately, these signals can result in modulation of almost every aspect of cell behaviour, from contraction to motility, metabolism to further signalling.

The signal, once activated, is then slowly turned off by a number of mechanisms. The GTP associated with the Gα subunit is hydrolysed back to GDP, resulting in the reassociation of the Gα and βγ subunits to form the inactive trimeric GDP-bound G-protein. The GPCR itself also becomes phosphorylated on the intracellular C-terminus, preventing further interaction with G-proteins. Eventually, the bound ligand may also dissociate.

This generic signalling pathway is so central and ubiquitous in mammalian physiology that as many as 40% of licensed pharmaceuticals have a GPCR among their molecular targets. Similarly, bacteria have evolved to target G-protein signalling in order to disrupt host physiology and immunity: Vibrio cholerae (the organism responsible for cholera), for example, makes a protein known as cholera toxin which irreversibly inhibits the Gα subunit of a widely distributed G-protein called G_(s). Similarly, Bordetella pertussis (the organism responsible for Whooping Cough) makes a protein known as Pertussis toxin which has a similar effect on a different G-protein, G.

One approach to identifying pharmaceuticals which will modulate GPCR signalling has been to screen very large random compound libraries for the ability to interfere with ligand binding to membrane preparations containing recombinant or purified GPCRs. In such high throughput screens, various methods have been adopted to facilitate the detection of binding. For example, in scintillation proximity assays, the binding of a radiolabelled ligand to the receptor brings the radionuclide into proximity with a scintillant molecule bound to the receptor—as the nuclide decays, light is emitted which can be detected and quantified. Alternatively, the ligand can be fluorescently labelled and the binding detected by fluorescence polarisation (dependent on the reduced rotational degrees of freedom of the fluorescent tag when the ligand is immobilised on binding to the receptor).

While these techniques have been successful in some instances, and yielded lead compounds which have subsequently been developed as human pharmaceuticals (for example, the 5HT₃ receptor antagonist Ondansetron, used to treat migraine headaches), there remain large numbers of GPCRs for which few, if any, suitable non-peptide agonist or antagonist compounds have been identified, despite intensive screening across the pharmaceutical industry. For example, there are few specific non-peptide antagonists for the chemokine receptor family of GPCRs, and no agonists. Since chemokines play a central role in immune regulation, such molecules would be expected to be extremely valuable pharmaceuticals with immunomodulatory properties useful in treating a wide range of diseases with an inflammatory component.

Two factors limit the likely success of random screening programmes: firstly, there is a very large compound space to be screened, and even with the best available high throughput technology and the best combinatorial chemistry approaches to generating diverse libraries, only a small fraction of all possible molecular structures can be investigated. Secondly, even when leads have been successfully identified the core pharmacophores are often not suitable for use in vivo—the lead compound and its analogs may be simply too toxic.

Another major problem with such “negative screening” paradigms (where you detect the ability of the test library to block binding of a labelled ligand) is that most of the leads identified are receptor antagonists. Few of the leads have any agonist activity (as expected—agonist activity requires the ability to bind to and then convert the receptor to the activated conformation, whereas antagonist actively merely requires the ability to bind to the receptor or ligand in such a way as to prevent their interactions) and generating analogs of the initial antagonist leads to convert them to agonists is a “hit and miss” affair with very low success rates.

One approach to circumventing this problem would be to replace the random compound library with a library of molecular structures preselected to contain a high proportion of GPCR binding compounds. Such a library would also ideally include both agonists and antagonists in similar proportion so that either could be readily located. Ideally, also, the basic molecular structures used in the library would be non-toxic.

Whether or nor real libraries can be constructed which approximate these ideal properties is not at all clear. If they do, it will require the existance of a putative “ideal” GPCR substrate which would interact with many different GPCRs irrespective of their natural ligand preferences. By varying the substitution of this idealised substrate it may then be possible to impart selectivity for one receptor in the class over all the others.

Here we describe an “ideal” GPCR substrate which can be used as a three-dimensional skeleton that can be variously substituted to generate agonists and/or anatagonists at a range of different GPCRs. The invention also provides for the preparation of a library of said substituted compounds to be applied in a screening process in order to generate GPCR ligands with any prescribed set of specificities. In this way, it is now possible to “dial up” a GPCR ligand with a known set of properties (for example, a ligand which has agonist activity at dopamine D2 receptors at the same time as antagonist activity at serotonin 5HT_(1a) (receptors). In contrast, identifying such mixed ligands serendipitously from random libraries is a very rare event.

SUMMARY

The invention provides compounds and salts thereof of general formula (I)

wherein: y is any integer from 1 to 8; z is any integer from 0 to 8 with the proviso that y and z cannot simultaneously be 1; X is —CO—(Y)_(k)—(R¹)_(n) or SO₂—(Y)_(k)—(R¹)_(n); k is 0 or 1 Y is a cycloalkyl or polycycloalkyl group (such as an adamantyl, adamantanemethyl, bicyclooctyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropyl group); or Y is a cycloalkenyl or polycycloalkenyl group; each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylamino, alkylaminoalkyl, alkylaminodialkyl, charged alkylaminotrialkyl or charged alkylcarboxylate radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or each R¹ is independently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, hydroxy, oxyalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, aminodialkyl, charged aminotrialkyl, or carboxylate radical; and n is any integer from 1 to m, where m is the maximum number of substitutions permissible on the cyclo-group Y.

Alternatively R¹ may be selected from a peptido radical, for example having from 1 to 4 peptidic moieties linked together by peptide bonds (for example a peptido radical of 1 to 4 amino acid residues).

This class of compounds are described as α-aminocyclolactams. The key structural features of the molecules are the lactam amide in a cycloalkyl ring system, with an amino group attached to the carbon atom next to the lactam carbonyl group (termed the α-carbon).

The terms “α-aminocyclolactam” and “cycloalkyl ring system” as used herein cover both mono-cyclic and bicyclic rings;

Where z=0 in Formula (I) the compounds are α-aminomonocyclolactams;

Where z=1-8 in Formula (I) the compounds are α-aminobicyclolactams.

The α-carbon of α-aminocyclolactams may be asymmetric (where y< >z in the general formula (I)) and consequently, some of the compounds according to the present invention have two possible enantiomeric forms, that is, the “R” and “S” configurations. The present invention encompasses the two enantiomeric forms and all combinations of these forms, including the racemic “RS” mixtures. With a view to simplicity, when no specific configuration is shown in the structural formulae, it should be understood that the two enantiomeric forms and their mixtures are represented.

The compounds of general formula (I) are N-substituted α-aminocyclolactams, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The N-substitutent is either a carbon amide or a sulfonamide. The geometry of the carbon atom next to the carbonyl of the carbon amide or the sulfonyl group of the sulfonamide (the “key” carbon) may be important for the bioactivity of the molecule. The nature of the N-substituent may be such that the ring or rings of Y constrain the bond angles at the “key”-carbon to be essentially tetrahedral (i.e. sp3 hybrid bonds). Any substituent R¹ may be a substituent at any permissible position on the ring or rings of the cyclo-group Y. In particular it is to be noted that the invention includes compounds in which the “key carbon” is both part of the cyclo group and is itself substituted. The definition of (R¹)_(n) encompasses compounds of the invention with no substitution (i.e. R¹=hydrogen), compounds of the invention with mono substitution (i.e. R¹ is not hydrogen and n=1), and also multiple substitution (i.e. at least two R¹ groups are not hydrogen and n=2 or more).

The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising, as active ingredient, a compound of general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and/or carrier:

wherein: y is any integer from 1 to 8; z is any integer from 0 to 8 with the proviso that y and z cannot simultaneously be 1 X is —CO—(Y)_(k)—(R¹)_(n) or SO₂—(Y)_(k)—(R¹)_(n); k is 0 or 1 Y is a cycloalkyl or polycycloalkyl group (such as an adamantyl, adamantanemethyl, bicyclooctyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropyl group); or Y is a cycloalkenyl or polycycloalkenyl group; each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylamino, alkylaminoalkyl, alkylaminodialkyl, charged alkylaminotrialkyl or charged alkylcarboxylate radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or each R¹ is independently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, hydroxy, oxyalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, aminodialkyl, charged aminotrialkyl, or carboxylate radical; and n is any integer from 1 to m, where m is the maximum number of substitutions permissible on the cyclo-group Y.

Alternatively R¹ may be selected from a peptido radical, for example having from 1 to 4 peptidic moieties linked together by peptide bonds (for example a peptido radical of 1 to 4 amino acid residues).

By pharmaceutically acceptable salt is meant in particular the addition salts of inorganic acids such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, sulphate, phosphate, diphosphate and nitrate or of organic acids such as acetate, maleate, fumarate, tartrate, succinate, citrate, lactate, methanesulphonate, p-toluenesulphonate, palmoate and stearate. Also within the scope of the present invention, when they can be used, are the salts formed from bases such as sodium or potassium hydroxide. For other examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts, reference can be made to “Salt selection for basic drugs”, Int. J. Pharm. (1986), 33, 201-217.

The pharmaceutical composition can be in the form of a solid, for example powders, granules, tablets, gelatin capsules, liposomes or suppositories. Appropriate solid supports can be, for example, calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugars, lactose, dextrin, starch, gelatin, cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidine and wax. Other appropriate pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and/or carriers will be known to those skilled in the art.

The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention can also be presented in liquid form, for example, solutions, emulsions, suspensions or syrups. Appropriate liquid supports can be, for example, water, organic solvents such as glycerol or glycols, as well as their mixtures, in varying proportions, in water.

The invention also provides the use of a compound of general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the preparation of a medicament intended to modulate the activity of one or more members of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) class:

wherein: y is any integer from 1 to 8; z is any integer from 0 to 8 with the proviso that y and z cannot simultaneously be 1 X is —CO—(Y)_(k)—(R¹)_(n) or SO₂—(Y)_(k)—(R¹)_(n); k is 0 or 1 Y is a cycloalkyl or polycycloalkyl group (such as an adamantyl, adamantanemethyl, bicyclooctyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropyl group); or Y is a cycloalkenyl or polycycloalkenyl group; each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylamino, alkylaminoalkyl, alkylaminodialkyl, charged alkylaminotrialkyl or charged alkylcarboxylate radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or each R¹ is independently selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, hydroxy, oxyalkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, aminodialkyl, charged aminotrialkyl, or carboxylate radical; and n is any integer from 1 to m, where m is the maximum number of substitutions permissible on the cyclo-group Y.

Alternatively R¹ may be selected from a peptido radical, for example having from 1 to 4 peptidic moieties linked together by peptide bonds (for example a peptido radical of 1 to 4 amino acid residues).

The invention provides compounds, compositions and uses of the compounds of general formula (I) or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, wherein the R¹ radical has a “key” carbon which is di-substituted with the same or different groups selected from: alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynl and alkylamino radicals.

The invention provides compounds, compositions and uses wherein the “key” carbon is chiral.

The invention provides compounds, compositions and uses wherein the “key” carbon has sp3 hybridised bonds.

The invention provides compounds, compositions and uses wherein the “key” carbon has essentially tetrahedral bond angles.

The compounds of general formula (I) when used in the invention, or their salts, may be such that the ring or rings of Y constrain the bond angles at the “key” carbon to be essentially tetrahedral (i.e. sp3 hybrid bonds).

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, general formula (I) is modified such that the C3-C7 alkyl bridge —(CH₂)_(y)— is replaced by a bridging group independently selectable from the group consisting of alkenyl, haloalkyl, alkylamino, alkylaminoalkyl, alkylaminodialkyl, charged alkylaminotrialkyl, charged alkylcarboxylate and alkylhydroxy moieties having a carbon chain length of from 1 to 8.

The invention provides a use, composition or compound wherein y and z are the same integer from 1-8, whereby the bicyclolactam ring is non-chiral.

The invention provides a use, composition or compound wherein y and z are not the same integer from 1-8, whereby the bicyclolactam ring is chiral.

The invention provides a use, composition or compound wherein z is 3 and y is 1 or 2 or 4-8, whereby the compound contains a lactam ring which is seven membered.

The invention provides a use, composition or compound wherein z is 2 and y is 1 or 3-8, whereby the compound contains a lactam ring which is 6 membered.

Examples of compounds of general formula (I) and their salts according to the present invention are:

-   4-(Adamantane-1-carbonylamino)-3-oxo-2-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane -   5-(Adamantane-1-carbonylamino)-10-oxo-9-aza-bicyclo[3.3.2]decane -   4-(2′,2′-dimethyldodecanoylamino)-3-oxo-2-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane -   5-(2′,2′-dimethyldodecanoylamino)-10-oxo-9-aza-bicyclo[3.3.2]decane     and the salts thereof.

The invention also provides the sulfonamide analogues of the exemplified compounds: i.e. the sulfonyl-α-aminocyclolactam equivalents of the compounds of Formula (I).

The invention includes compounds, compositions and uses thereof as defined,

wherein the compound is in hydrated or solvated form.

The amide and sulfonamide derivatives of α-aminocyclolactams described here are functional GPCR agonists. They are stable in human serum and consequently have excellent pharmacokinetic properties; they are orally bioavailable; they are highly potent GPCR agonists; their administration is not associated with any significant acute toxicity at the doses necessary to achieve a maximal therapeutic effect. Taken together, these properties suggest that amide and sulfonamide derivatives of α-aminocyclolactams represent a series of compounds enriched in GPCR agonist and antagonist properties

The core consisting of the “key” carbon, the carbonyl or sulfonyl group, the α-amino group and the cyclolactam system (particularly the constrained bicyclolactam ring system) represents an exampe of an “ideal” GPCR ligand. By varying the substitution of this core, it is possible to generate GPCR agonists and antagonists with a wide range of desirable properties much more readily than by screening random compound libraries.

As a result, the invention also provides for a library consisting of two or more members of the class of compounds designated by general formula (I), such that the library may be screened to identify a molecule with a particular desirable set of properties with regard to modulating signalling at one (or more) GCPRs. The said library would then be screened for antagonist or agonist activity at the said GPCR(s) using methods well known in the art. For example, the library may be screened for the ability of individual library elements to block the binding of a radiolabelled GPCR ligand to a membrane preparation containing recombinant or purified GPCR. Alternatively, the library may be screened for the ability of individual library elements to stimulate cAMP production in cells expressing a recombinant GPCR.

The invention also provides a method of treatment, amelioration or prophylaxis of the symptoms of disease or condition selected from the group consisting of hypertension, atherosclerosis, asthma, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune disorders or psychopathic disorders by the administration to a patient of an effective amount of a compound, composition or medicament of the invention designed to modulate GPCR activity.

DEFINITIONS

The term “about” refers to an interval around the considered value. As used in this patent application, “about X” means an interval from X minus 10% of X to X plus 10% of X, and preferably an interval from X minus 5% of X to X plus 5% of X.

The use of a numerical range in this description is intended unambiguously to include within the scope of the invention all individual integers within the range and all the combinations of upper and lower limit numbers within the broadest scope of the given range. Hence, for example, the range of 1 to 20 carbon atoms specified in respect of (inter alia) formula I is intended to include all integers between 4 and 20 and all sub-ranges of each combination of upper and lower numbers, whether exemplified explicitly or not.

As used herein, the term “comprising” is to be read as meaning both comprising and consisting of: Consequently, where the invention relates to a “pharmaceutical composition comprising as active ingredient” a compound, this terminology is intended to cover both compositions in which other active ingredients may be present and also compositions which consist only of one active ingredient as defined.

The term “peptidic moieties” used herein is intended to include the following 20 naturally-occurring proteogenic amino acid residues:

SYMBOL: MEANING Ala Alanine Cys Cysteine Asp Aspartic Acid Glu Glutamic Acid Phe Phenylalanine Gly Glycine His Histidine Ile Isoleucine Lys Lysine Leu Leucine Met Methionine Asn Asparagine Pro Proline Gln Glutamine Arg Arginine Ser Serine Thr Threonine Val Valine Trp Tryptophan Tyr Tyrosine

Modified and unusual amino acid residues, as well as peptido-mimetics, are also intended to be encompassed within the definition of “peptidic moieties”.

Unless otherwise defined, all the technical and scientific terms used here have the same meaning as that usually understood by an ordinary specialist in the field to which this invention belongs. Similarly, all the publications, patent applications, all the patents and all other references mentioned here are incorporated by way of reference (where legally permissible).

The following examples are presented in order to illustrate the invention and should in no way be considered to limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES General Procedure for the Synthesis of the Starting Compounds

The hydrochlorides of (R) and (S)-3-amino-caprolactam, and the hydro-pyrrolidine-5-carboxylates of (R,R) and (S,S)-3-amino-caprolactam were synthesised according to literature (cf. Boyle et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1979), 44, 4841-4847; Rezler et al., J. Med. Chem. (1997), 40, 3508-3515).

Example 1

4-(Adamantane-1-carbonylamino)-3-oxo-2-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane Example 2

5-(Adamantane-1-carbonylamino)-10-oxo-9-aza-bicyclo[3.3.2]decane Example 3

4-(2′,2′-dimethyldodecanoylamino)-3-oxo-2-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane Example 4

5-(2′,2′-dimethyldodecanoylamino)-10-oxo-9-aza-bicyclo[3.3.2]decane Pharmacological Study of the Products of the Invention Principle of the Assays A: GPCR Antagonism

In principle, a compound of the invention can be tested for antagonist activity at a given GPCR by exposing the receptor to a labelled ligand under appropriate conditions for binding, in the absence and presence of various concentrations of the test compound. The amount of label associated with the receptor is then quantitated. If the test compound is able to compete with the labelled ligand for binding then the amount of label associated with the receptor will decrease with increasing concentration of the test compound. From the plot of ligand bound against test compound concentration it is possible to estimate the binding affinity of the test compound to the receptor.

Such an assay therefore requires:

(1) A source of the GPCR of interest. The sequence of every member of the GPCR superfamily from humans is now available from the human genome sequence. Such sequences can be cloned into a suitable vector and expressed in a suitable cell type (for example, Jurkat T cells which are already known to express virtually no endogenous GCPRs with the exception of the chemokine receptor CXCR4). After selection using an antibiotic appropriate to the vector used, stable cell lines expressing high levels of the chosen GPCR can be established.

Membrane fractions from cell lines expressing the chosen GPCR can be prepared using a range of methods well known in the art. For example, according to Kuo et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1980) 77:7039), the cells may be resuspended in 25 mM HEPES buffer pH7.5 containing 0.25M sucrose, 2.5 mM MgCl₂, 2.5 mM EGTA and 50 mM β-mercaptoethanol, as well as protease inhibitors such as PMSF and leupeptin and split open using a Dounce homogeniser. The suspension is then subjected to centrifugation at 120×g to pellet unbroken cells and large cellular fragments, and the supernatant containing small membrane fragments and cytosolic components is retained. This supernatant is then subjected to ultracentrifugation at 100,000×g, producing a pellet of membrane fragments enriched in the chosen GPCR. The pellet is resuspended in an appropriate binding buffer, and the total protein concentration determined using, for example, a commercially available protein assay such as Coomassie Plus (Pierce). The membrane preparation can be adjusted in volume to yield a standardised total protein concentration, for example of 1 mg/ml. The standardised preparation can be stored at −85° C. in aliquots until required.

(2) A labelled ligand with high affinity for the chosen GPCR. Suitable ligands for most GPCRs are well known in the literature. Such ligands may be the natural ligand for the receptor (for example, dopamine) or it may be a pharmacological tool (such as domperidone). A list of suitable ligands for a wide range of commonly investigated GPCRs is provided in Table 1, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other suitable ligands exist for many of these receptors. Ligands most useful for this purpose will have an affinity constant for binding to the chosen receptor of at least 1 μM, and preferably less than 100 nM, and more preferably less than 10 nM.

TABLE 1 Conc. Conc. Receptor Radioligand (nM) Competitor (μM) Adenosine A₁ [³H]DPCPX 1 DPCPX 1 Adenosine A₂ [³H]CGS 21680 6 NECA 10 Adenosine A₃ [¹²⁵I]AB-MECA 0.1 IB-MECA 1 α₁-adrenoceptor [³H]prazosin 0.25 prazosin 0.5 α₂-adrenoceptor [³H]RX 821002 0.5 (−)-epinephrine 100 β₁-adrenoceptor [³H](−)-CGP 12177 0.15 alprenolol 50 β₂-adrenoceptor [³H](−)-CGP 12177 0.15 alprenolol 50 Angiotensin AT₁ [¹²⁵I][sar¹,ile⁸]-AII 0.05 angiotensin II (AII) 10 Angiotensin AT₂ [¹²⁵I]CGP 42112A 0.05 angiotensin II (AII) 1 Central BZD [³H]flunitrazepam 0.4 diazepam 3 Peripheral BZD [³H]PK 11195 0.2 PK 11195 10 Bombesin (ns) [¹²⁵I][Tyr⁴]bombesin 0.01 bombesin 1 Bradykinin B₂ [³H]bradykinin 0.2 bradykinin 1 CGRP receptor [¹²⁵I]hCGRPα 0.03 hCGRPα 1 Cannabinoid CB₁ [³H]WIN 55212-2 2 WIN 55212-2 10 Cholecystekinin A [¹²⁵I]CCK-8 0.08 CCK-8 1 Cholecystekinin B [¹²⁵I]CCK-8 0.025 CCK-8 1 Dopamine D1 [³H]SCH 23390 0.3 SCH 23390 1 Dopamine D2s [³H]spiperone 0.3 (+)-butaclamol 10 Dopamine D3 [³H]spiperone 0.3 (+)-butaclamol 10 Dopamine D4.4 [³H]spiperone 0.3 (+)-butaclamol 10 Dopamine D5 [³H]-SCH 23390 0.3 SCH 23390 10 Endothelin ET_(A) [¹²⁵I]endothelin-1 0.03 endothelin-1 0.1 Endothelin ET_(B) [¹²⁵I]endothelin-1 0.03 endothelin-1 0.1 GABA (ns) [³H]-GABA 10 GABA 100 Galanin GAL1 [¹²⁵I]galanin 0.03 galanin 1 Galanin GAL2 [¹²⁵I]galanin 0.05 galanin 1 IL8RB (CXCR2) [¹²⁵I]IL-8 0.025 IL-8 0.3 CCR1 [¹²⁵I]MIP1α 0.03 MIP1α 0.1 Histamine H₁ [³H]pyrilamine 3 pyrilamine 1 Histamine H₂ [¹²⁵I]APT 0.2 tiotidine 100 MC4 [¹²⁵I]NDP-α-MSH 0.05 NDP-α-MSH 1 Melatonin ML₁ [¹²⁵I]iodomelatonin 0.025 melatonin 1 Muscarinic M₁ [³H]pirenzepine 2 atropine 1 Muscarinic M₂ [³H]AF-DX 384 2 atropine 1 Muscarinic M₃ [³H]4-DAMP 0.2 atropine 1 Muscarinic M₄ [³H]4-DAMP 0.2 atropine 1 Muscarinic M₅ [³H]4-DAMP 0.2 atropine 1 Neurokinin NK₁ [¹²⁵I][sar⁹,met¹¹]-SP 0.15 [sar⁹,met¹¹]-SP 1 Neurokinin NK₂ [¹²⁵I]NKA 0.1 [nle¹⁰]-NKA(4-10) 10 Neurokinin NK₃ [³H]SR 142801 0.2 SB 222200 10 Neuropeptide Y₁ [¹²⁵I]peptide YY 0.05 NPY 1 Neuropeptide Y₂ [¹²⁵I]peptide YY 0.015 NPY 1 Neurotensin NT₁ [¹²⁵I][Tyr³]-neurotensin 0.02 neurotensin 1 δ opioid (δ₂) [³H]DADLE 0.5 naltrexone 10 κ opioid [³H]U 69593 0.7 naloxone 10 μ opioid [³H]DAMGO 0.5 naloxone 10 ORL1 opioid [³H]nociceptin 0.2 nociceptin 1 PACAP [¹²⁵I]PACAP(1-27) 0.02 PACAP(1-27) 0.1 Purine P2X [³H]α,β-MeATP 3 α,β-MeATP 10 Purine P2Y [³⁵S]dATPαS 10 dATPαS 10 Serotonin 5HT_(1A) [³H]8-OH-DPAT 0.5 8-OH-DPAT 10 Serotonin 5HT_(1B) [¹²⁵I]CYP 0.1 serotonin 10 Serotonin 5HT_(2A) [³H]ketanserin 0.5 ketanserin 1 Serotonin 5HT_(2C) [³H]mesulurgine 1 SB 242084 10 Serotonin 5HT₃ [³H]BRL 43694 0.5 MDL 72222 10 Serotonin 5HT_(5A) [³H]LSD 1 serotonin 100 Serotonin 5HT₆ [³H]LSD 2 serotonin 100 Serotonin 5HT₇ [³H]LSD 4 serotonin 10 Sigma receptor [³H]DTG 8 haloperidol 10 (ns) Somatostatin (ns) [¹²⁵I][Tyr¹¹]-sst14 0.05 sst14 0.3 Vasopressin VIP₁ [¹²⁵I]VIP 0.04 VIP 0.3 Abbreviation used: (ns) = non-selective

Once the ligand has been selected, it will likely be necessary to label the ligand so that subsequently the amount bound to the chosen GPCR can be determined (although it may be possible to perform an assay without labelling the ligand, providing that a sensitive and accurate method of determining the amount of unbound ligand is available—for example it may be possible to use an ELISA assay to measure unbound ligand, and by inference calculate the amount of bound ligand). Appropriate methods of labelling the ligand vary depending on the nature of the ligand: small molecules may be most readily labelled with a radionuclide such as ³H, ¹⁴C or ³⁵S; peptides may be most readily labelled with a co-synthetic biotin (and subsequently with labelled streptavidin), with fluorescent tags (such as fluorescein isothiocyanate) or with radionuclides (such as ¹²⁵I-iodination of tyrosine residues in the peptide); proteins may be most readilly labelled with fluorescent tags (such as fluorescein isothiocyanate) or with radionuclides (such as ¹²⁵I-iodination of tyrosine residues in the protein).

The extent of the labelling (that is, the proportion of molecules in the sample bearing the label) must be sufficient that the amount of ligand binding to the receptor can be conclusively quantitated.

With these two components it is then possible to test whether the compounds of the invention modulate ligand binding to any given GPCR, using methods well known in the art. For example, in a series of tubes the membrane preparation is mixed with the radioligand at a concentration near to the affinity constant for the binding of the ligand to the chosen GPCR. In some tubes, the compound of the invention is also added at various concentrations. In yet other tubes a positive control inhibitor is added (which may be a large excess of the same ligand as the radioligand but in the absence of the radionuclide tag). Typically, three tubes would be prepared under each set of conditions. The tubes are then incubated, typically at between 4° C. and 37° C., more typically at room temperature for a period of time to allow an equilibrium to be reached between free and bound radioligand. Typically, this will take from between 20 minutes and 4 hours, and the period required for any given set of reaction conditions can be determined by methods well known in the art (for example, by performing a time-course experiment). Once equilibrium is achieved, it is necessary to determine the amount of radioliagnd bound. For example, the membrane-bound receptor (plus any bound radioligand) can be separated from free radioligand in solution by filtration through filters (such as GF/C filters treated with 1% polyethyleneimine). The filters may then be air-dried and subjected to scintillation counting to determine the fraction of the radioligand added which is now bound to the receptor.

Alternatively, the compounds of invention may be subjected to screening using commercially available receptor screening procedures (for example, the services offered by Cerep, 128 Rue Danton, Paris, France). Such services readily identify members of a library, such as the library provided for in the invention, which modulate ligand binding to one or more GPCRs.

Compounds identified as modulating ligand binding to one or more GPCRs using the methods outlined above will usually be full antagonists. However, it is necessary to perform functional assay in order to confirm the antagonist properties of the compound. For example, depending on the GPCR and/or the ligand used certain second messenger signals will be stimulated (or inhibited) in order to transduce the signal that the ligand is present. Cells may show and increase (or a decrease) in the cellular concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), various phosphorylated inositol-containing compounds (including I(1,4,5)P3 and I(1,3,5)P3), calcium ions, polyadenosine or other intracellular messengers known in the art, in response to presentation of the ligand. Full antagonists will abrogate the change in intracellular messengers caused by the natural ligand(s), and have no effect in the absence of natural ligand. In marked contrast, full agonists will have no effect when added with the natural ligand(s), but mimic the changes in intracellular messengers caused by the natural ligand(s) when added in the absence of natural ligand. Some compounds, including compounds of the invention may be partial antagonists, partial agonists or mixed agonist/anatgonists depending on the pattern of effects on intracellular messengers. Despite the complex pharmacological definition of such compounds, they may have useful therapeutic properties in certain diseases, and a number of well established human pharmaceuticals are known to be partial agonists, partial antagonists or mixed agonist/antagonists at one or more GPCRs.

B: GPCR Agonism

It is inherently considerably more difficult to test for agonist activity than antagonist activity, particularly using high throughput screening techniques. The compounds of the invention are, therefore, likely to be particularly useful in the search for agonists than general lead discovery libraries because of the higher incidence of GPCR agonists among the library elements.

A test for a GPCR agonist, in principle, requires a cell or organ culture system which responds to a natural ligand of the chosen GPCR(s) with a desirable biochemical or physiological response. Examples of such a response include, but are not limited to, changes in intracellular messengers (such as cAMP, IP(1,4,5)P3, calcium ions or polyadenosine), changes in enzyme activity (such as activation of protein kinases, phosphatases, metabolic enzymes or transport proteins), changes in gene expression patterns, altered phagocytosis, altered protein secretion, altered rate of proliferation, contraction of muscle cells/tissue, neurotransmission and so forth. Since responses such as these are inherently more complex to measure than the binding of natural ligand(s) to chosen GPCRs, this is why assays for GPCR agonists are more challenging than for antagonists.

The general method required to test whether a compound of the invention is an agonist at one or more chosen GPCRs is well established in the art. Cells are exposed to various concentrations of the test compound, for example, by addition of the compound in a suitable vehicle (such as DMSO, ethanol or methanol) at various concentrations (for example, from about 0.1 nM to about 10 mM) in the cell culture medium for period of time (for example, from 1 minute to 48 hours, depending on the timecourse of the response to be measured), typically at 37° C. In parallel cells are also exposed to the natural ligand, and left unexposed to any additional compound(s) (as control cells). At the end of the incubation period, a response known in the art to occur in response to the natural ligand binding to the chosen GPCR(s) is measured. If the compound of the invention is an agonist at the chosen GPCRs, then the responses to the test compound (at certain concentrations) will be qualitatively similar to the response to the natural ligand.

Examples of suitable assay systems for agonists at particular GPCRs follow:

Somatostatin is an agonist at the sstr2 and sstr5 receptors such that it inhibits the secretion of growth hormone by isolated pituitary cells. To determine whether compounds of the invention are agonists at sstr2 and/or sstr5, rat pituitary cells are isolated and placed into culture. The cells are then incubated alone, or in the presence of somatostatin at 33 nM, or in the presence of the test compound(s) at various concentrations from about 0.1 nM to about 10 mM at 37° C. for 24 hours. At the end of the experiment, the cell culture medium is removed, clarified by centrifugation and subjected to an assay for growth hormone (GH), for example by performing a commercially available ELISA or radioimmunoassay. The cells exposed to somatostatin will have produced between 30% and 90% less GH than cells incubated alone. If the compound of the invention is an agonist at the somatostatin receptors, then the level of GH will be lower in the medium from cells exposed to the test compound (at least at certain concentrations) than in the medium from cells incubated alone. Typically, medium is collected from three replicate wells containing cells treated identically under each of the conditions of the experiment, so that an appropriate statistical test (such as an ANOVA or unpaired Student's t-test) can be used to demonstrate that the test compound produced a statistically significant reduction in GH secretion, and therefore likely possesses agonist activity at the chosen receptors, sstr2 and/or sstr5.

Endothelin-1 is a peptide which signals through the ET-A and/or ET-B receptor to cause vasoconstriction. To determine whether compounds of the invention are agonists at ET-A and/or ET-B, rings of human aorta (obtained from transplant donor hearts) can be put into organ culture. Rings are then exposed either to increasing concentrations of Endothelin-1 (from 0.01 nM to 100 nM), or to increasing concentrations of the test compound(s) (from about 0.1 nM to about 10 mM) at 37° C., raising the concentration of the appropriate agent approximately every 5 minutes. Throughout the experiment the contraction of the aortic ring is measured by a strain gauge designed and commercially available for such a purpose. The rings exposed to endothelin-1 will contract as the concentration of endothelin-1 is increased, so that by the time the top concentration is reached the force exerted on the strain gauge will be significantly higher than prior to addition of endothelin-1. If the compound of the invention is an agonist at the endothelin receptors, then the force exerted on the strain gauge will also be higher (at least at certain concentrations) than prior to addition of the test compound. Typically, three or more separate aortic rings are treated with increasing concentrations of the same agent under identical experimental conditions, so that an appropriate statistical test (such as an ANOVA or unpaired Student's t-test) can be used to demonstrate that the test compound produced a statistically significant increase in aortic contraction, and therefore likely possesses agonist activity at the chosen receptors, ET-A and/or ET-B.

The chemokine SDF-1a is a peptide which signals through the CXCR4 receptor to cause leukocyte migration. To determine whether compounds of the invention are agonists at CXCR4 cultured human immortalised T-cells (Jurkat T cells, for example), are placed in the top well of a purpose-built commercially available transwell migration apparatus. Replicate wells are then exposed to lower chambers containing only culture medium, or to lower chambers containing SDF-1a at 75 nM, or to lower chambers containing various concentrations of the test compound(s) (from about 0.1 nM to about 10 mM) and incubated for a period of time (typically between 30 minutes and 3 hours) at 37° C. At the end of the incubation, the number of cells present in the lower chamber is a measure of the amount of migration occurring. The number of cells in the lower chamber may be counted by direct visualisation, or by various well-known methods such as incubation with MTT dye which is converted to an insoluble blue formazan product in proportion to the number of cells present. In wells exposed to a lower chamber containing SDF-1a, the number of cells in the lower chamber will be between 2-fold and 10-fold higher than the number of cells in lower chambers containing culture medium alone. If the compound of the invention is an agonist at CXCR4, then the number of cells in the lower chambers containing the test compound(s) will also be higher (at least at certain concentrations) than in the lower chambers containing medium alone. Typically, three or more separate chambers are treated identically under each of the experimental conditions, so that an appropriate statistical test (such as an ANOVA or unpaired Student's t-test) can be used to demonstrate that the test compound produced a statistically significant increase in leukocyte migration, and therefore likely possesses agonist activity at the chosen receptors, ET-A and/or ET-B.

The bioactive amine adrenalin increases the intracellular concentration of cAMP in vascular smooth muscle cells. To determine whether compounds of the invention are agonists at 13-adrenoreceptors, rat vascular smooth muscle cells from thoracic aorta are isolated and placed into culture. The cells are then incubated alone, or in the presence of the adrenalin agonist salbutamol at 33 nM, or in the presence of the test compound(s) at various concentrations from about 0.1 nM to about 10 mM at 37° C. for 15 minutes. At the end of the experiment, the cell culture medium is removed, the cells are washed three times in ice cold buffer and then lysed in an appropriate lysis buffer, prior to measurement of the intracellular concentration of cAMP, for example by performing a commercially available ELISA or radioimmunoassay. The cells exposed to salbutamol will have an intracellular cAMP concentration between 15% and 150% higher than cells exposed to medium alone. If the compound of the invention is an agonist at the β-adrenoreceptors, then the intracellular concentration of cAMP will be higher in the cells exposed to the test compound (at least at certain concentrations) than in the cells incubated alone. Typically, cell lysate is prepared from three replicate wells containing cells treated identically under each of the conditions of the experiment, so that an appropriate statistical test (such as an ANOVA or unpaired Student's t-test) can be used to demonstrate that the test compound produced a statistically significant increase in intracellular cAMP concentration, and therefore likely possesses agonist activity at the chosen β-adrenoreceptors.

It will be obvious that assays such as the examples above will identify agonists at the chosen GPCRs, and distinguish the compounds of the invention from inactive compounds and from compounds with antagonist or partial antagonist activity at the chosen GPCR, but will not necessarily uniquely identify the chosen GPCR as the molecular target of the compound of the invention. For example, a compound of the invention demonstrated to elevate cAMP in vascular smooth muscle cells to the same extent as the β-adrenoreceptor agonist salbutamol, may be an agonist at the β-adrenoreceptor GPCRs, or it may be an agonist at another GPCR which also elevates cAMP (such as dopamine D2 receptor). Alternatively, a compound of the invention which stimulates the migration of leukocytes to a similar extent to SDF-1a may be an agonist at CXCR4, or it may be an agonist at another GPCR which stimulates leukocyte migration (such as the C5a receptor). Validation of the molecular target GPCR at which compounds of the invention act as an agonist will require the performance of additional experiments using specific antagonists already identified against the chosen GPCR, or the use of recombinant cell lines expressing only the chosen GPCR. For example, if the leukocyte migration induced by a compound of the invention were inhibited by the addition of the CXCR4-specific antagonist AMD3100 at an appropriate concentration, then it would be reasonable to conclude that CXCR4 was the molecular target of the compound of the invention. Similarly, if the leukocyte migration induced by a compound of the invention was observed using a cell line expressing CXCR4, but absent in the same cell line not expressing CXCR4, then it would be reasonable to conclude that CXCR4 was the molecular target of the compound of the invention. 

1. A compound of general formula (II)

wherein: y is any integer from 1 to 8; X is —CO—R¹ or —SO₂—R¹; each R¹ is independently selected from an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylaminoalkyl, alkylaminodialkyl, or charged alkylaminotrialkyl, radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or each R¹ is independently selected from oxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, aminodialkyl, or charged aminotrialkyl radical; and wherein the R¹ radical has a “key” carbon next to the carbonyl of the carbon amide or the sulfonyl group of the sulfonamide which is di-substituted with the same or different groups selected from: alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl and alkylamino radicals.
 2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising, as active ingredient, a compound of general formula (II), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and/or carrier:

wherein: y is any integer from 1 to 8; X is —CO—R¹ or —SO₂—R¹; each R¹ is independently selected from an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylaminoalkyl, alkylaminodialkyl, or charged alkylaminotrialkyl, radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or each R¹ is independently selected from oxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, aminodialkyl, or charged aminotrialkyl radical; and wherein the R¹ radical has a “key” carbon next to the carbonyl of the carbon amide or the sulfonyl group of the sulfonamide which is di-substituted with the same or different groups selected from: alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl and alkylamino radicals.
 3. A method for the treatment, amelioration or prophylaxis of the symptoms of disease or condition selected from the group consisting of hypertension, atherosclerosis, asthma, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune disorders and psychopathic disorders comprising the step of administrating an effective amount of a compound of formula (II):

wherein: y is any integer from 1 to 8; X is —CO—R¹ or SO₂—R¹; each R¹ is independently selected from an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylaminoalkyl, alkylaminodialkyl, or charged alkylaminotrialkyl, radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms; or each R¹ is independently selected from oxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, aminodialkyl, or charged aminotrialkyl radical; and wherein the R¹ radical has a “key” carbon next to the carbonyl of the carbon amide or the sulfonyl group of the sulfonamide which is di-substituted with the same or different groups selected from: alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl and alkylamino radicals.
 4. A library composed of, or enriched in, library elements which are compounds according to claim
 1. 5. A method of screening in an assay, a library according to claim 4, to identify agent(s) which modulate signalling through GPCRs.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the agent(s) identified are antagonists at one or more GPCRs.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the agent(s) identified are agonists at one or more GPCRs.
 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the GPCR is selected from the group consisting of adrenalin receptors, endothelin receptors, chemokine receptors, EDG receptors, VIP/PECAP receptors, dopamine receptors, serotonin receptors, purine receptors, metabotropic glutamate receptors, acetyl choline receptors, C5a receptors, fMLP receptors, glucagon or GLP receptors, NPY receptors, MSH receptors, glycoprotein hormone receptors, protease activated receptors (PARs), somatostatin receptors, angiotensin receptors, cholecystokinin receptors, and melatonin receptors. 